Sweet Itch Rug
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Ekzemdecke SWEET RELIEF Nautilus
ab 405,00 €
More Stuff
When is a Sweet Itch Rug advisable?
Recognizing symptoms: How Sweet Itch Manifests Itself
Sweet itch is a skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of gnats or other stinging insects. The horse feels a strong itching, there is scrubbing on the mane and tail, which in turn sometimes causes larger wounds, which can then be entry points for parasites, bacteria and fungi.
Feed and Care play an important role in the prevention and treatment of sweet itch. However, wearing an eczema blanket is essential and the most reliable protection against being stung.
Season & insect infestation: When to start protecting your horse
Unfortunately, it is not possible to say in general terms in which months a sweet itch blanket should be worn. It always depends on the weather. Normally, we would recommend using the blanket at least from April to October. However, if the weather is unusually mild in autumn or spring, it may be necessary to use it earlier or later.
Just keep an eye on when your horse shows the first - even minimal - symptoms. If it has been scrubbing in the same place for three days in a row, you should cover it up at the latest. At the beginning or end of the season, however, you can reduce to wearing the neck piece alone , provided your horse has no sensitive areas elsewhere on its body.
Freshly imported Icelandic horses should always wear a sweet itch blanket during their first summers in Germany, regardless of whether they show symptoms or not.
Buying an Sweet Itch Rug: What you should definitely look out for
The Farbic
In addition to the question of whether the material really does not let mosquitoes through, the following points should also be considered:
Is the fabric quick drying? In rain showers, sweet itch rugs made of conventional thick fabrics tend to soak up water and take a long time to dry. In this case, the horse has to stand in a heavy, soaked blanket for a long time after a rain shower. This can lead to the horse being cold and muscle tension .
If you live close to the stable and can change your horse quickly, this is no problem, but especially if you are at the stable less often or the horses are outside at night, this is of course very impractical and, in case of doubt, unpleasant for the horse.
Fly rugs are often made of materials that dry more quickly. However, these usually offer little protection on the underside of the belly and are therefore not protective enough for most eczema horses. If you buy a blanket with waterproof inserts, make sure that it is really breathable and does not become a sauna for your horse. Most of them are not. Our blanket is made of quick-drying, water-repellent but highly breathable, lightweight fabric.
The Colour
Colour of the blanket: Dark fabrics heat up very strongly in summer and attract mosquitoes more strongly. Light colours are therefore always preferable. For the horse, it has no added value if you see less dirt on the dark blanket. On the contrary, it is important that you wash your sweet itch blanket very regularly, so that the dirt does not cause infections in your horse's wounds.
Seams and stitching
Really make sure that your sweet itch blanket is cleanly made . Many blankets have hard, coarse seams or much too tight elastics, which cause bruising and chafing on the sensitive eczema skin. All parts of our sweet itch blanket are finished with smooth inner seams to protect the sensitive animals.
Origin and production:
Sustainability is important! The best way to support small businesses that produce fairly is to buy from them. That way, you can be sure that environmental standards are being met and that the seamstresses are being paid fairly. Even if it may be more expensive for you.
Fit of an sweet-itch rug: What horse owners should look out for
Complete protection for all sensitive areas
The blanket really covers all the sensitive areas your horse. Unprotected areas where mosquitoes can reach your horse are often:
- Neck
- Throat
- Between the front legs
- Belly
- Udder or Sheath
- Tail root
Improper cuts and gaping closures are invitations to biting pests. Especially if your horse needs protection at the hose/udder and legs, you should make sure that the blanket hangs down further.
Comfortable to wear for horses with sweet itch
A well-protected horse should not suffer under its rug. Make sure that no pressure points occur: keine Druckstellen entstehen:
The typical pressure points of eczema blankets are:
- The withers: Does your hand still fit loosely between the blanket and the withers when your horse has its head on the ground and eats? If your horse has been wearing sweet itch blankets for a long time, there is a very high chance that he has white or brittle hairs in the mane at the withers or even a bare spot. Pressure on the withers can be very uncomfortable for your horse in the long run, as it can make breathing difficult or cause painful tension that can hinder riding.
- Chest: If the horse has its head down, not only does the fabric over the withers often pull tight, but it also strangles the horse at the neck.
- Cheeks, parotid gland: Conventional blankets are often fastened at the top of the neck with an elastic band. This keeps the blanket on the head, but it also leaves bald and bloody spots on the neck. Masks are often so tight that they can block the horse's parotid gland and cause severe pain.
Safety first!
Loose belly guards or dangling leg straps with metal carabiners can pose a risk of injury when rolling over. .
In the best case scenario, only the rug will be damaged—not your horse!
